Production line with flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system and heated surface for breeding insects, method for breeding insects and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The first object of the invention is a production line for rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects of the order Coleoptera and/or Diptera, characterized in that it comprises: at least one breeding line (14) for breeding insects for laying feed thereon and a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of heating-cooling medium for heating/cooling the feed on the breeding line (14). The second object is a method for breeding insects including a step of rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects using a production line according to the invention. A further object is a method for breeding insects using a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system during the breeding. Another object is the use of a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of heating-cooling medium for heating/cooling the feed on the breeding line (14).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Pat. Application17/857,150, filed on Jul. 04, 2022, which in turn is filed under 35U.S.C. §111(a), claiming the benefits under 35 U.S.C. §120 and §365(c)of the International Application PCT/PL2021/050052, filed Jul. 05, 2021,which claimed priority to the Polish Patent Application P.435063, filedAug. 24, 2020 in the Polish Patent Office, the disclosures of which arethereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The object of the invention is a production line for rearing insectsand/or larval forms comprising a flow-through feed heating and/orcooling system on a production line, use of a flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system on a production line and a production line forbreeding insects, and methods for breeding insects using thereof. Saidflow-through feed heating and/or cooling system uses a flow-throughheating/cooling in a closed system and a medium in the form of water,glycol or other.

Another object of the invention is a heated production surface forrearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects, whichuses an electrical heating system, use thereof and a method for breedingusing thereof.

The invention using a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system aswell as a production surface heated by an electrical heating system areparticularly adapted for rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larvalforms of insects of the order Coleoptera and Diptera.

STATE OF ART

In recent years, industrial insect breeding has been indicated as anenvironmentally sustainable alternative for the production of proteinand fat for feed purposes inter alia feeding of livestock and for foodpurposes (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2012Assessing the potential of insects as food and feed in assuring foodsecurity. Summary report. Technical consultation meeting 23-25 January,FAO, Rome, Italy).

A group of insects with a particular potential as a source of proteinfor feed and food purposes are beetle larvae (Coleoptera) from thedarkling beetle family (Tenebrionidae) and hymenopteran larvae(Diptera). Among the species bred on a semi-industrial and industrialscale, species to be mentioned are: lesser mealworm (Alphitobiusdiasperinus), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), superworm (Zophobas morio),confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum), red flour beetle (Triboliumcastaneum), black flour beetle (Tribolium madens), and other species ofthe darkling beetle family and Hymenoptera from species belonging to thegenus Hermetia (Hermetia illucens). All the above mentioned species feedin the substrate at the larval growth stage.

Currently used technologies for the breeding of darkling beetle larvaeare based on “rack systems”, or self-supporting ones using containerswith a small surface area with a few centimetres (1-5 cm) thick layer ofbreeding substrate (described e.g. in the international application PCTWO2014171829A1). As a standard, plastic containers or transport boxesplaced on pallets are used for breeding (described e.g. in theapplication PCT/FR2016/050849). These usually have a small containerarea, generally not exceeding 0.5 m². Therefore, the solutions used makeit difficult to precisely control the microclimate due to poor gasexchange and removal of moisture and excess metabolic heat, etc. Thermalconditions can change dramatically over short periods of time, e.g. dueto the temperature of the provided feed or the handling of containerswith insects, as well as due to the metabolism of the insectsthemselves, i.e. so-called specific dynamic heat losses. From the pointof view of animal welfare, and especially of insects, which areexothermic animals, unstable environmental conditions are associatedwith stress and may cause changes in feed intake or growth rates. Drawerand container rearing systems entail the need for heating and/or coolingof the entire room in which the insects are housed. As the species bredbelong to thermophilic organisms, the solutions used so far make itnecessary to maintain a high air temperature reaching over 30° C.throughout the entire rearing period, which in the case oflarge-cubature breeding rooms generates high energy consumption, most ofwhich is lost in heating and/or cooling of the air and the room elementsthemselves and not the insects themselves.

From the Polish patent description PL230275B1, solutions are known inthe form of a modular, multi-storey system of technological lines.However, said lines do not use heating and/or cooling of feed.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to overcome the abovementioned disadvantagesresulting from the state of the art. This aim has been achieved byunexpectedly observing that the provision of insect feed in the form ofheated and/or cooled feed by an engineered flow-through feed heatingsystem and/or cooling placed on and/or under the breeding line based onflow-through heating/cooling in a closed system being a part of anengineered production line or breeding line, allows indirectheating/cooling of insects organisms and their surroundings, thusincreases the fattening rate of the insects, at the same time decreasesfeed consumption per kg of animal body weight gain (FCR) and ensuresstabilization of other parameters such as ambient temperature, humidity,thus stabilizing housing parameters and results of insect breeding. Thisaim has also been achieved by providing a heated production surface forrearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects, whichcomprises an electrical feed heating system for the insect breedingline, which by heating the feed warms the insects and ensures optimumtemperature conditions and improves the rearing performance and survivalof the insects.

The inventors of the present solution have found that it is preferableto use flow-through heating and/or cooling mounted on breeding lines inorder to heat and/or cool the provided feed, which then constitutes asource of heat/cold for the larvae and insects feeding therein. Thesystem allows precise control of thermal conditions in insect breeding,while minimizing energy losses through unnecessary heating/cooling ofbreeding spaces. Similar effects are obtained when feed is heated by asystem of electrical heating of the production surface for rearingand/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects.

In both cases where feed is heated/cooled on the breeding line as wellas in the case where the heating/cooling system adequately heats/coolsthe feed on the breeding line the effect of using the system isheating/cooling of feed and thus obtaining stable and optimum conditionsfor insect breeding, only in one case this happens directly in the feedheating/cooling system on the breeding line and in the other caseindirectly in the heating/cooling system of the breeding line from whichthe feed is then heated/cooled.

A production line for rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larvalforms of insects or a breeding line by integration with a flow-throughfeed heating and/or cooling system or a production surface heated by anelectrical heating system, increases the rearing efficiency by providingstable thermal conditions for the insects and insect larvae. In apreferred embodiment the flow-through feed heating and/or cooling systemplaced directly in the biomass of insects and/or larval forms of insectsand feed allows for maintaining relatively low temperature inside thebreeding rooms when heating the feed or does not require cooling of thebreeding rooms at high breeding room temperatures, because the insectsassimilate the necessary heat/cold for their development by taking upthe heated/cooled food as well as such a system heats/cools the feed onthe breeding line or the breeding line itself and then the feed placedthereon. Thus, a flow-through heating and/or cooling system for feedlaid on the line indirectly results in heating/cooling of the animalsthemselves. Currently, there are no alternative solutions for providingheat/cooling to the larvae and insects themselves in insect productionthat would not relay on heating/cooling of the breeding rooms and not beassociated with significant losses and energy inputs.

The first object of the invention is a production line for rearingand/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects, wherein itcomprises:

-   a) at least one breeding line for breeding insects for laying feed    thereon, wherein preferably the breeding line comprises at least one    storey (tier), which constitutes an autonomous conveyor belt,    preferably with profiled lateral sidewalls arranged bilaterally    along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, preferably the    edges of the lateral sidewalls are bent inwards,-   b) a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system with a closed    flow of heating-cooling medium for heating and/or cooling the feed    on a breeding line, comprises at least one heating-cooling medium    supply circuit and at least one heating-cooling medium return    circuit connected to each other, and the heating-cooling medium    supply circuit and the heating-cooling medium return circuit are    fluidly connected to a heat exchanger for heating and/or cooling the    heating-cooling medium, and the heating-cooling medium supply    circuit and the heating-cooling medium return circuit comprise    heating-cooling medium distributors, and heating-cooling pipes of    thermally conductive material for the distribution of heat and/or    cold on the breeding line are connected to the heating-cooling    medium distributor via a shut-off valve, wherein the heating-cooling    pipes of thermally conductive material of the system for heating    and/or cooling the feed on the breeding line are arranged parallel    to the conveyor belt of said at least one breeding line for laying    feed for breeding insects thereon, wherein the heating-cooling pipes    of thermally conductive material are arranged along the breeding    line for rearing insects and are arranged in at least two rows    parallel to each other, wherein the heating-cooling medium supply    circuit and the heating-cooling medium return circuit are connected    via a three-way valve, wherein the rearing and/or breeding of    insects and/or larval forms of insects concerns insects of the    orders Coleoptera and/or Diptera.

In a preferred embodiment of the flow-through feed heating and/orcooling system, the cooling-heating medium is water or glycol.

In a further preferred embodiment of the production line, the heatexchanger provides heating and/or cooling of the heating-cooling mediumto a temperature in the range of 7-50° C., preferably 15-50° C., morepreferably 20-48° C., more preferably up to 25-35° C., more preferablyup to 28-32° C.

In another preferred embodiment of the production line, theheating-cooling pipes are made of a material with good thermallyconductive properties including copper, steel, aluminium, plastic,preferably plastic.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the production line, the heatexchanger is based on a source of electrical energy, gas or the use ofheat pumps or heat recuperation.

In a further preferred embodiment of the production line, theheating-cooling pipes are arranged on and/or under the conveyor belt ofthe breeding line and form at least two rows of heating-cooling pipesspaced from each other, preferably by 20 cm.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the production line, theheating-cooling medium supply circuit and the heating-cooling mediumreturn circuit comprise a system of shut-off valves, drain valves,vents, at least one temperature sensor and at least one pressure sensor,and they are fluidly connected to each other.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the production line, theheating-cooling medium return circuit includes a rotameter.

In a further preferred embodiment of the production line, theheating-cooling medium supply circuit includes a solid particle filter.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the production line, the fluidconnection is provided by pipes made of steel.

In another further preferred embodiment of the production line itcomprises at least two, preferably several, preferably a dozen,preferably between five and thirty storeys comprising a breeding lineand a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system with a closed flowof the heating/cooling medium.

The second object of the invention is a method for breeding insectsincluding a step of rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval formsof insects, said step in which the feed is heated and/or cooled by meansof a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system with a closed flowof the heating/cooling medium on a breeding surface and wherein the stepof rearing and/or breeding insects and/or larval forms of insects iscarried out using a production line as defined in the first object ofthe invention.

A further object of the invention is a method for breeding insectsincluding the steps:

-   a) the feed at storage temperature is laid on a breeding line    adapted for laying feed for breeding insects thereon, wherein    preferably the breeding line comprises at least one storey, which    constitutes an autonomous conveyor belt, preferably with profiled    lateral sidewalls arranged bilaterally along the direction of    movement of the conveyor belt, preferably the edges of the lateral    sidewalls are bent inwards,-   b) the feed for insects laid on at least one breeding line adapted    for laying feed for insects thereon is heated and/or cooled by a    flow-through heating and/or cooling system with a closed flow for    heating and/or cooling the feed on the breeding line, wherein the    heating and/or cooling system includes:-   at least one heating-cooling medium supply circuit and at least one    heating-cooling medium return circuit connected to each other, and    the heating-cooling medium supply circuit and the heating-cooling    medium return circuit are fluidly connected to a heat exchanger for    heating and/or cooling the heating-cooling medium, and the    heating-cooling medium supply circuit and the heating-cooling medium    return circuit comprise the heating-cooling medium distributors, and    to the heating-cooling medium distributor via a shut-off valve the    heating-cooling pipes of thermally conductive material are connected    for distribution of heat/cooling on the breeding line, wherein the    heating-cooling pipes of thermally conductive material of the system    for heating and/or cooling the feed on the breeding line are    arranged parallel to the said at least one breeding line for laying    feed for breeding insects thereon, wherein the heating-cooling pipes    of thermally conductive material are arranged along the breeding    line for insect rearing and are arranged in at least two rows    parallel to each other, wherein the heating-cooling medium supply    circuit and the heating-cooling medium return circuit are connected    via a three-way valve, wherein rearing and/or breeding of insects    and/or larval forms of insects concerns insects of the orders    Coleoptera and/or Diptera.

In preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects the feed isheated/cooled to a temperature in the range of 7-50° C., more preferably15-50° C., more preferably 20-48° C., more preferably to 25-35° C., morepreferably to 28-32° C.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the bred insects are placed in drawer, box, or self-supporting systems.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the heating-cooling medium is water or glycol.

In a preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects, the heatexchanger ensures heating/cooling of the heating-cooling medium to atemperature in the range of 7-50° C., more preferably 15-50° C., morepreferably 20-48° C., more preferably to 25-35° C., more preferably to28-32° C.

In an another preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the heating-cooling pipes are made of a material with good thermallyconductive properties including copper, steel, aluminium, plastic,preferably plastic.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the heat exchanger is based on a source of electrical energy, gas or theuse of heat pumps or heat recuperation.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the breeding line comprises at least one storey, which preferablyconstitutes an autonomous conveyor belt, wherein the heating-coolingpipes are arranged on and/or under the conveyor belt of the breedingline and form at least two rows of heating-cooling pipes and are spacedfrom each other, preferably by 20 cm.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the heating-cooling medium supply circuit and the heating-cooling mediumreturn circuit include a system of shut-off valves, drain valves, vents,at least one temperature sensor and at least one pressure sensor, andthey are fluidly connected to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects, theheating-cooling medium return circuit includes a rotameter.

In yet further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the heating-cooling medium supply circuit includes a solid particlefilter.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method for breeding insects,the fluid connection constitutes pipes made of steel.

The invention also relates to the use of a flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system with a closed flow for heating and/or cooling feedon a breeding line for breeding insects, wherein said system includes atleast one heating-cooling medium supply circuit and at least oneheating-cooling medium return circuit connected to each other, and theheating-cooling medium supply circuit and the heating-cooling mediumreturn circuit are fluidly connected to a heat exchanger for heatingand/or cooling the heating-cooling medium, and the heating-coolingmedium supply circuit and the heating-cooling medium return circuitcomprise the heating-cooling medium distributors, and to theheating-cooling medium distributor via a shut-off valve theheating-cooling pipes of thermally conductive material are connected fordistribution of heat/cooling on the breeding line, wherein theheating-cooling pipes of thermally conductive material of the system forheating and/or cooling the feed on the breeding line are arrangedparallel to the said at least one breeding line for laying feed forbreeding insects thereon, wherein the heating-cooling pipes of thermallyconductive material are arranged along the breeding line for insectrearing and are arranged in at least two rows parallel to each other,wherein the heating-cooling medium supply circuit and theheating-cooling medium return circuit are connected via a three-wayvalve, wherein rearing and/or breeding of insects and/or larval forms ofinsects concerns insects of the orders Coleoptera and/or Diptera.

In a preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system, water or glycol is used as the heating-coolingmedium.

In a further preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, the heat exchanger provides heating ofthe heating-cooling medium to a temperature in the range of 7-50° C.,more preferably 15-50° C., more preferably 20-48° C., more preferably to25-35° C., more preferably to 28-32° C.

In a further preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, pipes made of a material with goodthermally conductive properties including copper, steel, aluminium,plastic, preferably plastic are used.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, a heat exchanger based on a source ofelectrical energy, gas or the use of heat pumps or heat recuperation isused.

In a preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system, the breeding line comprises at least one storey,which constitutes an autonomous conveyor belt, wherein theheating-cooling pipes arranged on and/or under the conveyor belt of thebreeding line which form at least two rows of heating-cooling pipesspaced from each other, preferably by 20 cm, are used.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, the heating-cooling medium supply circuitand the heating-cooling medium return circuit are used, including asystem of shut-off valves, drain valves, vents, at least one temperaturesensor and at least one pressure sensor, and they are fluidly connectedto each other.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, the heating-cooling medium return circuitincludes a rotameter.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the use of the flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system, the heating-cooling medium supply circuitincludes a solid particle filter. In a further preferred embodiment ofthe use of the flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system, fluid isprovided by pipes made of steel.

In a preferred use of the flow-through feed heating and/or coolingsystem, the system includes at least two, preferably several, preferablya dozen, preferably between five and thirty storeys comprising abreeding line and the flow-through feed heating and/or cooling systemwith a closed flow of the heating/cooling medium.

Compared to known methods of providing insect larvae with an appropriatelevel of heat/cooling, the present invention is characterized by a muchhigher energy efficiency. The greatest advantage is the fact that it isno longer necessary to maintain a high temperature in the breeding roomsfor heating the insects or the general cooling of breeding rooms forcooling the insects. The ambient temperature can be in the range of 8°C. to 43° C. Due to the fact that the feed laid on the breeding lines isheated/cooled, the heating-cooling device used can be of much smallercapacity and will consume less energy than in the case ofheating/cooling of the entire room.

Another advantage is the speed and efficiency of heating/cooling. Thefeed in the system is heated in up to 12 hours from a temperature of 8°C. (the temperature of feed stored during cold periods of the year) to atemperature between 20° C. and 48° C., with the possibility ofcontinuously adjusting it to regulate insect metabolism.

A great advantage of the system for heating and/or cooling the feed onthe breeding line is also the possibility to adapt the system as well asthe breeding line according to the invention to a specific breedingsurface, and so it can occupy from 5 to 100% of the total rearingsurface. There is no limitation to the size of the production surface,can even cover surfaces of more than 10,000 m² typical for the largestproduction halls.

An exemplary flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system in a closedsystem for heating and/or cooling the feed, which is particularly usefulfor heating and/or cooling the feed and thus indirectly bred insects,includes the following elements

-   a system of pipes of copper, steel, aluminium, plastic or other good    thermally conductive material including plastic, distributing the    heating-cooling medium and providing heating/cooling for feed.-   a heat exchanger providing heating/cooling of the medium in the    pipes thanks to the use of energy from electrical source, gas or    based on heat pumps or heat recuperation and other sources of heat    allowing to reach a temperature in the range of 7-50° C., more    preferably 15-50° C., more preferably 20-48° C., more preferably up    to 25-35° C., more preferably up to 28-32° C. allowing to control    metabolic processes of insects including specific dynamic heat    losses or the removal of excess metabolic heat.

It has proven beneficial to use a flow-through heating and/or coolingsystem installed on breeding lines in order to heat/cool the providedfeed, which then constitutes a source of heat/cooling for the insectlarvae feeding therein. The heating and/or cooling system and linescomprising them allow precise control of thermal conditions in insectbreeding, while minimizing energy wasted by heating/cooling unnecessaryspaces. The possibility of heating the feed using the system and aproduction line according to the invention can also be used to regulateits moisture due to the increased evaporation of water from the feed ofhigher temperature. This possibility has important practicalconsequences, because towards the end of insect fattening it isimportant to reduce feed moisture, so that the process of sievinginsects from the substrate can take place more efficiently. The feedlocated on the line during fattening of insects has the moisture contentof up to 80%, while by using the feed heating and/or cooling system, itis possible to dry it and reduce the moisture content at the end offattening to a level of 20%. The feed located on the rearing lines is ina layer thickness from 2 to 20 cm depending on the type of feed andspecies of insect.

Compared to previously used methods of providing insect larvae with anadequate level of heat/cold, the solutions according to the inventionusing a flow-through heating and/or cooling system installed on breedinglines for heating/cooling the fed feed is characterized by a much higherefficiency. The greatest advantage is that it is not necessary tomaintain a high temperature in the breeding rooms when insects need tobe warmed up and there is no need to cool down entire breeding roomswhen insects need to be cooled down. The ambient temperature can be inthe range from 8° C. to 43° C. As only the feed laid on the breedinglines is heated/cooled, the heating-cooling device used can be of a muchlower capacity and energy consumption than that used to heat/cool theentire room. In itself, the heating/cooling of feed using a flow-throughheating/cooling system installed on the breeding lines is fast andeffective. Feed in the system is heated within up to 12 hours from atemperature of 8° C. to a temperature between 20° C. and 48° C., withthe possibility of continuously adjusting the temperature to regulateinsect metabolism. Research carried out during testing of the prototypesystem has shown that feed in the described system heats up 6 to 12times faster than in the open air, which translates into efficiency andspeed of use of such a heating system in providing appropriate thermalconditions for insects.

Experiments carried out (Example 5) on Hermetia illucens species haveshown that insects bred using the technology described herein arecharacterized by a 7% faster fattening, understood as achieving a 7%higher body weight at the end of the fattening, as well as a 14%reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR).

The above-mentioned growth parameters as well as the FCR are closelycorrelated with the vital needs of the insects which have been shown tobe 20-300% lower when using direct heating of feed on the breeding linesby a flow-through heating/cooling system. Moreover, the use ofheated/cooled feed reduces the stress associated with feeding thelarvae/insects and increases their survival, which has been observed tobe up to 45% higher when using a flow-through heating and/or coolingsystem compared to the standard rearing method where entire holdingrooms are heated/cooled (Example 5). Thanks to the smooth regulation ofthe temperature of the fed feed, it is also possible to regulate theinsects metabolism level and, if necessary, shorten or lengthen the lifecycle, as well as the FCR for both Coleoptera and Diptera insects. Thepossibility to heat the feed can also be used to regulate its moisturecontent thanks to the increased evaporation of water from the feed ofhigher temperature. For the above reasons, another function of thesystem is the drying of secondary metabolites after insect productionincluding faeces, which are a component of the fertiliser.

An important advantage of production or breeding lines with aflow-through feed heating and/or cooling system as well as a heatedproduction surface with an electrical feed heating system is the factthat such a feed heating and/or cooling system can be used both inmulti-level/multi-storey production lines which are the subject ofpatent PL 230275B1, which increases the available production space aswell as when using a single level rearing system or even a “racksystem”. A great advantage is also the possibility of adapting theflow-through feed heating and/or cooling system as well as the heatedproduction surface with an electrical feed heating system to thebreeding surface, so it can occupy from 5 to 100% of the total rearingsurface. There is no limitation to the size of the production surface(production or breeding lines with a flow-through feed heating and/orcooling system or an electrical feed heating system), such a heatingand/or cooling system can even occupy surfaces of more than 10,000 m²characterizing the largest production halls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

The present invention has been illustrated in figures, which serve onlyto illustrate examples of the embodiments of the invention and do notlimit its scope in any way.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the flow-through heating and/or cooling systemof the breeding line for breeding invertebrates with heating/cooling ona production line (here above the conveyor belt);

FIG. 2 shows a part of the flow-through heating and/or cooling systemwith the heated/cooled medium supply circuit;

FIG. 3 shows a part of the flow-through heating and/or cooling systemwith the cooled/heated medium return circuit;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a storey layout of breeding lines, for claritythe flow-through feed heating and/or cooling systems are omitted fromthe figure, whose parts of the heating-cooling pipes are above each lineor are placed under the conveyor belt;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the flow-through heating and/or cooling systemof the production line for breeding invertebrates with heating/coolingthe feed on the breeding line with the system placed under the conveyorbelt;

FIG. 6 shows the heated/cooled medium supply circuit of the heatingand/or cooling system from FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 shows the heated/cooled medium return circuit of the heatingand/or cooling system from FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 8 shows the temperature dependence on the time of heating the feed(A), shows a cross-section of the breeding line (one storey of thebreeding line that can be multi-storey) with a conveyor belt withlateral sidewalls with bending, here preferred embodiment with doublebending (B).

FIG. 9 shows heating-cooling pipes arranged in at least two rows on twostoreys above the conveyor belt, where: 9a – combined heating and/orcooling system, 9b - heating-cooling medium supply circuit, 9c-heating-cooling medium return circuit;

FIG. 10 Heating-cooling pipes arranged in at least two rows under theconveyor belt of a two-storey breeding line, where: 10a – combinedheating and/or cooling system, 10b - heating-cooling medium supplycircuit, 10c - heating-cooling medium return circuit.

FIG. 11 shows a breeding surface with an electrical feed heating systemon the breeding surface.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following examples are included only to illustrate the invention andto explain its particular aspects, not to limit it, and should not beequated with the entire scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Construction of a Flow-Through Feed Heating and/orCooling System for a Breeding Line for Breeding and Rearing Insects

The flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system 1 forheating/cooling feed in insect breeding (FIG. 1 ) consists of two partsof a closed heating-cooling medium circulation system. The first part ofthe system (FIG. 2 ) is connected at the outlet via the shut-off valve12 to the heat exchanger 3 and constitutes the circuit supplying 17 thesystem with the heated/cooled heating-cooling medium. The second part ofthe system constitutes the return circuit 18 (FIG. 3 ) of theheating-cooling medium and serves to receive the cooled/heatedheating-cooling medium and transfer it to the heat exchanger 3, where itis again heated/cooled.

Each part of the system consists of the following constructionalelements:

-   a) a system of heating-cooling pipes 15 e.g., of oxygen-cross-linked    polyethylene (PEX) discharging heat/cold from the medium to the feed    on breeding lines 14 with a system of shut-off valves 12;-   d) a system of filters 11, shut-off valves 12, vents 10;-   e) Set of temperature sensors 7 and pressure sensors 8 for    heating-cooling medium;-   g) heat exchanger 3, as a heat/cold source in the form of e.g., a    heat pump or a gas furnace for heating;-   h) a system of pipes 16 e.g., of carbon steel supplying the    heating-cooling medium from the heat exchanger 3 to the distributor    13, supplying the heating-cooling pipe system with the    heating-cooling medium,-   i) drain valves 5 of heating-cooling medium.

The part supplying the system with heated/cooled heating-cooling mediumadditionally comprises a drain valve 5, which enables draining themedium e.g. when servicing the line or needing to replace the medium,placed downstream of the first circulation pump 6 and a three-way valve2 directly connected to upstream of the second circulation pump 6, whichenables mixing the medium from both parts of the system in order, e.g.to regulate the pressure or temperature. Whereas the part of the systemreceiving the cooled/heated heating-cooling medium comprises a balancingvalve 4 equalizing pressure, located upstream of the shut-off valve 12connecting at the outlet of the second part of the system with the heatexchanger 3.

The heating-cooling medium in the flow-through feed heating and/orcooling system in insect breeding was water, heated by a gas furnace asheat exchanger 3. The temperature of water leaving the furnace was 39°C. The heated water was discharged from the furnace through a steel pipe16 placed in an insulating bundle minimizing heat loss. The intensity ofthe water flow was 0.16 m³/h. The water, after passing through a solidparticle filter 11 (mesh filter), was pumped by a circulation pump 6 tothe distributor 13 of the heating-cooling installation placed on theproduction lines of the breeding line 14 for insect breeding andrearing.

In order to transfer the heat to the feed, heated water is fed from thedistributor 13 into a heating-cooling installation consisting ofheating-cooling pipes 15 of PEX, which are arranged in two rows 20 cmapart from each other along the breeding line 14 intended for rearinginsects. The heating-cooling pipes 15 are suspended directly above thebreeding lines 14, onto which the feed for the bred insects is thenlaid. The laid feed has a temperature lower than the heating-coolingmedium and of about 20° C., as a result of which it begins to receiveits heat, until it reaches a thermal equilibrium at the level of 39° C.,more preferably stabilizing the feed temperature at the level of 28-32°C. The water, cooled to a temperature of about 38° C., returns throughthe heating-cooling pipe system 15 to the heat exchanger 3 here aheating device maintaining a constant temperature of the medium in theheating-cooling system (a flow-through feed heating and/or coolingsystem on the breeding line).

Temperature sensors 7 as well as pressure sensors 8 of theheating-cooling medium are placed at specific points in theheating-cooling system, providing information about its physicalparameters. A rotameter 9 is also installed at the entry to the breedinglines 14 in order to measure the flow rate of the medium. The gas boilerwas provided with an automatic temperature regulation allowing for anytemperature setting in the range from 7 to 50° C.

Example 2 Production Line Comprising Feed Heating/Cooling System on aProduction Line Above The Conveyor Belt

In the example of embodiment of the production line (FIG. 4 ), thebreeding line 14 was integrated with a feed heating and/or coolingsystem (FIG. 1 ), increasing the rearing efficiency by providing stablethermal conditions for the insect larvae.

The breeding line 14 for rearing and/or breeding non-flying insectsand/or larval forms of insects comprises at least one storey, whichconstitutes an autonomous conveyor belt 19 with profiled lateralsidewalls 20 of edges bent once or twice inwards, arranged bilaterallyalong the direction of movement of the conveyor belt (FIG. 8B).

Heating of the Heating-Cooling Medium

The heating-cooling medium in the system is water. The water is heatedin the heat exchanger 3 in the form of a gas furnace. The temperature ofwater leaving the furnace is 39° C. As the heating-cooling medium,glycol can also be used. Glycol is a good medium because of its goodthermal conductivity, high boiling point and low freezing point.

Transport of the Heating-Cooling Medium

The heated water is discharged from the furnace through a pipe 16 ofsteel placed in an insulating bundle to minimize heat loss. Theintensity of water flow is 0.16 m³/h.

Heat Transfer to Feed

The heated water is fed into a distributor 13 of the heating-coolinginstallation, from which it is fed into a system of heating-coolingpipes 15 of PEX, which are arranged in two rows at a distance of about20 cm from each other along the breeding lines 14 intended for rearinginsects. The distance between the heating pipes 15 has been selected, sothat they lie in the middle of the breeding line 14 while ensuringsimilar contact with the entire feed. Whereas, their arrangement in tworows is due to the fact that through each breeding line 14 aheating-cooling pipe 15 runs both, one way and the other, i.e. they forma closed loop. The water inlets to the installation of each breedingline 14 are secured by shut-off valves 12. The pipes are suspendeddirectly above the breeding lines 14, onto which the feed for the bredinsects is then laid, and more specifically above the conveyor belt 19.The laid feed has a temperature lower than the heating-cooling mediumand of about 20° C. as a result of which it starts to receive its heat,until it reaches a thermal equilibrium at the level of 39° C., morepreferably stabilizing the feed temperature at the level of 28-32° C.The water, cooled to a temperature of 38° C., returns through the systemof heating-cooling pipes 15 and further pipes 16 to the heat exchanger 3here the heating device.

Control of Physical Parameters

The layout of the supply of the heating-cooling medium and the receivingof the heating-cooling medium from the breeding line 14 comprise,downstream of the distributor 13, temperature sensors 7, e.g. PT-100sensor, of the heating-cooling medium providing information about itsphysical parameters. The gas boiler (heat exchanger 3) is equipped withan automatic temperature regulation allowing for any temperature settingwithin the range from 7 to 50° C.

In the described solution, the flow-through feed heating and/or coolingsystem 1 is placed directly into the biomass of the insect larvae andthe feed, and allows for a relatively low temperature inside thebreeding rooms, because the insects assimilate the necessary heat fortheir development by taking up the heated food. Thus, the flow-throughheating and/or cooling system for the feed being laid on the line causesindirect heating of the animals themselves.

Example 3 A Production Line Comprising a Heating and/or Cooling Systemof the Breeding Line Under the Belt (Heating/Cooling the Feed byHeating/Cooling the Breeding Line)

In this example of embodiment of the production line (FIG. 6 ), thebreeding line 14 has been integrated with a flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system 1 (FIG. 1 ), increasing the rearing efficiency byproviding stable thermal conditions for the insect larvae. Theflow-through feed heating and/or cooling system 1 in this example ofembodiment in its construction, i.e. the type of elements comprising itand the method of their connection, does not differ at all from thesystem described in example 1. The essential difference is that theheating-cooling pipes 15 were placed under the conveyor belt 19 of thebreeding line 14. The heating-cooling pipes 15 of thermally conductivematerial are placed under the breeding line 14 transferring heat/cold tothe breeding line 14, and the breeding line 14 heats/cools the insectbiomass and the feed.

The production line comprises at least one storey of breeding line 14for rearing and/or breeding non-flying insects and/or larval forms ofinsects, which constitutes an autonomous conveyor belt 19 with profiledlateral sidewalls 20 of edges bent once, preferably twice inwards,arranged bilaterally along the direction of movement of the conveyorbelt.

Heating of the Heating-Cooling Medium

The heating medium in the system is water. The water is heated in theheat exchanger 3 here a gas furnace. The temperature of water leavingthe furnace is 39° C. As the heating-cooling medium, glycol can also beused. Glycol is a good medium because of its good thermal conductivity,high boiling point and low freezing point.

Transport of the Heating-Cooling Medium

The heated water is discharged from the heat exchanger 3 in the form ofa furnace through a pipe 16 of steel placed in an insulating bundle tominimise heat loss. The intensity of water flow is 0.16 m³/h

Heat Transfer to Feed

The heated water is fed into a distributor 13 of the heating-coolinginstallation, from which it is fed into a system of heating-coolingpipes 15 of PEX, which are arranged in two rows at a distance of about20 cm from each other along the breeding lines 14 intended for rearinginsects. The distance between the heating-cooling pipes 15 has beenselected so that they lie in the middle of the breeding line 14 underthe conveyor belt 19 to ensure similar contact of heat/cold with theentire feed. Whereas, their arrangement in two rows is due to the factthat through each breeding line 14 a heating-cooling pipe 15 runs both,one way and the other, i.e. they form a closed loop. The water inlets tothe installation of the flow-through heating/cooling system on eachbreeding line 14 are secured by shut-off valves 12. The heating-coolingpipes 15 are attached by clamps to pipes or support rails directly underthe conveyor belt 19 of the breeding line 14, onto which the feed forthe insects to be bred is then laid. The heat from the heating-coolingmedium is transferred directly to the breeding line 14. The feed laid onthe line has a temperature lower than the heating-cooling medium and of20° C. as a result of which it starts to receive its heat through theconveyor belt 19 of the heated breeding line 14, until it reaches athermal equilibrium at the level of 39° C., more preferably stabilizingthe feed temperature at the level of 28-32° C. The water, cooled to atemperature of 38° C., returns through the system of heating-coolingpipes 15 and further pipes 16 to the heating device (heat exchanger 3).

Control of Physical Parameters

The layout of the supply of the heating-cooling medium and the receivingof the heating-cooling medium from the breeding line 14 comprise,downstream of the distributor 13, temperature sensors 7, e.g. PT-100sensor, of the heating-cooling medium providing information about itsphysical parameters. The gas boiler (heat exchanger 3) is equipped withan automatic temperature regulation allowing for any temperature settingwithin the range from 7 to 50° C.

In the described example of embodiment, the flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system is placed directly under the conveyor belt 19 ofthe breeding line 14, on which the biomass of the insect larvae and thefeed is laid and allows for maintaining a relatively low temperatureinside the breeding rooms, because the insects assimilate the necessaryheat for their development by taking up the heated food. Thus, theflow-through heating and/or cooling system 1 for the feed being laid onthe breeding line 14 causes indirect heating of the animals themselves.

Example 4: Use of the Flow-Through Heating and/or Cooling System forHeating and/or Cooling The Feed

Tests carried out during the testing of the system have shown that thefeed in the described system heats up three times faster than in theopen air (when heating the breeding rooms to heat the feed and insects),which translates into effectiveness and speed of use of this system inproviding appropriate thermal conditions for insects.

Tab. 1 Heating the feed with and without installed system (FIG. 5 ) DaysHour Feed temperature With the heating system Without the heating system0 06:00 15 15 18:00 23 16 1 06:00 28 18 18:00 30 22 2 06:00 32 25 18:0035 27 3 06:00 36 28 18:00 37 30 4 06:00 38 32 18:00 35 35 5 06:00 30 3618:00 29 37 6 06:00 28 37 18:00 28 34 7 06:00 32 18:00 30 8 06:00 2918:00 29 9 06:00 28 18:00 28

Tab. 2 Summary of results for heating the feed With feed heating No feedheating Type of feed Fruit and vegetable mix Fruit and vegetable mixLayer thickness 5-7 cm 5-7 cm Heating duration 6 days 9 days

Example 5: Comparative Measurement of Body Weight of Bred Insects andFeed Conversion Ratio

Comparative measurements were carried out using the breeding methodaccording to the invention and known breeding methods with and withoutheating the feed on the breeding line 14.

Insects bred using the described breeding method of heating and/orcooling of the feed on the breeding line according to the invention arecharacterized by a 25% faster fattening, achieving a 7.5% higher bodyweight at the end of the fattening, as well as a reduction of up to 12%in the feed conversion ratio (FCR).

Tab. 3 Results of an insect rearing experiment on lines with heating thefeed and without it. Feed heating No feed heating Type of feed Fruit andvegetable mix Fruit and vegetable mix Insect species H. illucens H.illucens BWG kg/m² 6.42 5.97 FCR 6.8 7.77 Survival 93% 52% Rearing time6 8

Example 6: Use of the Flow-Through Feed Heating and/or Cooling System onthe Breeding Line For Cooling the Feed

Tests carried out during the testing of the system have shown that thefeed, and thus the insects feeding on it, in the case of excessivelyhigh temperatures, cools down more quickly with the use of aflow-through heating and/or cooling system for cooling the feed than inthe open air with the use of a cooling system where breeding takesplace, which translates into efficiency and speed of use of this systemin ensuring appropriate and stabilized close to optimal thermalconditions for the insects, as well as cooling them down in this way andavoiding overheating, removing excess metabolic heat excreted by theinsects or even killing them due to excessively high temperatures.

Tab. 4 Cooling the feed with and without installed flow-through feedheating/cooling system in the breeding line (cooling of breeding rooms)Days Hour Temperature With cooling system Without cooling system 1 06:0038 38 18:00 35 38 2 06:00 30 37 18:00 29 37 3 06:00 28 36 18:00 28 34 406:00 28 32 18:00 28 31 5 06:00 30 18:00 30 6 06:00 29 18:00 28 7 06:0028 18:00 28

Tab. 5 Summary of results for cooling the feed With feed cooling No feedcooling Type of feed mix. Fruit and vegetable mix. Fruit and vegetableLayer thickness 5-7 cm 5-7 cm Cooling duration 2 days 5.5 days

Example 7: Measurement of Insect Survival

Insects bred using the method according to the invention with the use ofa flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system on the breeding linewere provided with optimised and stable temperature conditions, whichresulted in reduced larval feeding stress and increased larval survival,which was observed to be up to 45% higher with the use of a flow-throughheating and/or cooling system 1 compared to the standard rearing method,where entire holding rooms are heated/cooled (Table 3). Similar resultsof increased survival were obtained with cooling the feed.

Example 8: Drying of Fertiliser

In this example of embodiment (Tab. 6 and Tab. 7), the use of a feedheating and/or cooling system on the line for the drying of secondarymetabolites after insect production including faeces, which are acomponent of fertiliser, is shown in comparison to heating the breedingrooms.

Tab. 6 Results of experiment showing drying of faeces (fertiliser)Rearing days Feed moisture Heating system No heating % dry mass % drymass 1 25 25 2 30 27 3 40 30 4 60 35 5 70 40 6 80 50 7 60 8 70 9 80 10

Tab. 7 Summary of results for drying of fertiliser Feed heating No feedheating Start moisture 25 % dry mass 25 % dry mass Final moisture 80%dry mass 80% dry mass Type of feed mix. Fruit and vegetable mix. Fruitand vegetable Layer thickness 5-7 cm 5-7 cm Heating duration 6 days 9days

Example 8: Construction of an Electrical Feed Heating System on theBreeding Line for Insect Breeding and Rearing

A heated production surface for rearing and/or breeding insects and/orlarval forms of insects with an electrical feed heating system on aproduction line 14 for heating feed in insect breeding is shown in FIG.11 and comprises an electrical feed heating system 22 comprising aheating cable 23 placed on and/or under the surface of the breeding line14 such that direct contact with the feed or indirect contact isprovided through the surface of the breeding line 14 for heating thefeed laid thereon. The method of placing the heating cable 23 on and/orunder the surface of the breeding line is known in the field ofconstruction. It should be made clear, for the sake of clarity, that bybreeding line 14 is meant the surface/substrate on which insect breedingis carried out. The construction of the line, in terms of construction,is of any design, but with the condition that the breeding line 14conducts heat well in the case where the heating cable is laid under thesurface of the breeding line. In this case, the material of which thebreeding line is made at the place of direct contact with the breedingmass (feed and insects) which is to be heated by the electric heatingsystem 22 should provide good thermally conductive properties. Thebreeding line 14 may also be made entirely of such material.

It is preferred that the breeding line 14 is made of metal, e.g. copper,steel or aluminium, plastic, ceramic or concrete. Stainless steelappears to be a preferred embodiment because of its ease of cleaning,its approval for contact with food and feed materials and its relativelylow operating costs. In a preferred example of embodiment, the breedingline is in the form of a conveyor belt 19. In a preferred embodiment,the breeding line 14 is provided with sidewalls 20 to ensurebio-assurance.

The electrical feed heating system 22 on the breeding line 14 forheating feed for insect breeding and rearing comprises the followingconstruction elements:

-   heating cable 23 placed on and/or under the surface of the breeding    line 14;-   connection wires 24;-   feed temperature sensor 25 on the breeding line;-   control-power unit 26, which powers the heating cable and controls    the operation of the heating cable.

In order to transfer the heat to the feed, the heating cable 23 ispowered by a current with predetermined parameters (voltage, frequency,amperage) controlled by the control-power unit 26 on the basis of datareceived from the feed temperature sensor 25. The control-power unit 26is powered by an external power source coming from the mains or abattery or a power generator. The control-power unit 26 is connected tothe heating cable 23 via connection wires 24. The control-power unitallows to automatically change the parameters of the outgoing current inorder to maintain the temperature of the heating cable within apredetermined temperature range from 7 to 50° C., preferably 20° C.-48°C., more preferably to 25-35° C., more preferably to 28-32° C. or otheror zonally different.

The electrical feed heating system 22 on the breeding line constitutinga part heating the feed for rearing and/or breeding insects and/orlarval forms of insects may also comprise multiple layouts of heatingcables and the cables may be routed to more than one breeding line.

When using an electrical feed heating system 22 on the breeding line 14,the same results were obtained as in the case of a flow-through feedheating and/or cooling system with a closed flow of the heating-coolingmedium, included in Tab. 3, 6, 7. The use of an electrical feed heatingsystem on the line allows to heat the feed to the desired temperatureand stabilize it within the selected temperature range so as to ensureoptimum breeding conditions for a given insect species, thus ensuringthe optimal thermal conditions for insects rearing as well as allowdrying of secondary metabolites after insect production includingfaeces, which are a component of the fertilizer.

REFERENCES

-   1–a flow-through feed heating and/or cooling system on a production    line-   2–three-way valve-   3–heat exchanger-   4–balancing valve-   5–drain valve-   6–circulation pump-   7–temperature sensor-   8–pressure sensor-   9–rotameter-   10–vent-   11–solid particle filter-   12–shut-off valves-   13–distributor-   14–breeding line-   15–heating-cooling pipes (e.g. PEX pipes)-   16–pipes e.g. steel pipes-   17–heating medium supply circuit-   18–heating medium return circuit-   19–conveyor belt-   20–lateral sidewalls-   21–drive shafts for the conveyor belt-   22–electrical feed heating system on a breeding line-   23–heating cable-   24–connection wires-   25–feed temperature sensor-   26–control-power unit

What is claimed is:
 1. A heated production surface configured forrearing and breeding of insects, or rearing larval forms of insects ofthe orders Coleoptera or Diptera, comprising: a) at least one breedingline (14) for breeding insects for laying feed thereon, wherein the atleast one breeding line (14) comprises at least one storey, whichconstitutes an autonomous conveyor belt (19), and b) a feed heatingsystem, which constitutes an electrical feed heating system (22) on abreeding line placed on and/or under the surface of the at least onebreeding line (14), wherein the electrical heating system (22) of thebreeding line comprises a heating cable (23) placed on or under thebreeding line (14) in such a way as to heat the feed, wherein theheating cable (23) is connected via connection wires (24) to acontrol-power unit (26) controlling the operation of the heating cable,said control-power unit (26) being connected to an energy source.
 2. Theheated production surface according to claim 1, wherein the electricalfeed heating system (22) is selected from a heating mat or heatingcable.
 3. The heated production surface according to claim 2, whereinalong the direction of movement of the conveyor belt (19) are arrangedbilaterally profiled lateral sidewalls (20), the edges of the lateralsidewalls (20) are bent inwards.
 4. The heated production surfaceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one breeding line (14)comprises two to, thirty storeys.
 5. The heated production surfaceaccording to claim 1, further comprises: a flow-through feed heatingand/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of a heating-cooling mediumfor heating and/or cooling the feed on the at least one breeding line(14), wherein the heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flowcomprises at least one heating-cooling medium supply circuit (17) and atleast one heating-cooling medium return circuit (18) connected to eachother, and the heating-cooling medium supply circuit (17) and theheating-cooling medium return circuit (18) are fluidly connected to aheat exchanger (3) for heating/cooling the heating-cooling medium, andthe heating-cooling medium supply circuit (17) and the heating-coolingmedium return circuit (18) comprise distributors (13) for theheating-cooling medium, and to the heating-cooling medium distributor(13) via a shut-off valve (12), heating-cooling pipes (15) of thermallyconductive material are connected for the distribution of heat and/orcold on the at least one breeding line (14), wherein the heating-coolingpipes (15) of thermally conductive material of the feed heating/coolingsystem on the at least one breeding line (14) are arranged parallel tothe an autonomous conveyor belt (19) of the breeding line (14) forlaying feed for breeding insects thereon, wherein the heating-coolingpipes (15) of thermally conductive material are arranged along the atleast one breeding line (14) for rearing insects and are arranged in atleast two rows parallel to each other, wherein the heating-coolingmedium supply circuit (17) and the heating-cooling medium return circuit(18) are connected via a three-way valve (2).
 6. The heated productionsurface according to claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger (3) providesheating/cooling of the heating-cooling medium to a temperature in therange of 7-50° C.; and the heat exchanger (3) is based on a source ofelectrical energy, gas or the use of heat pumps or heat recuperation. 7.The heated production surface according to claim 5, wherein theheating-cooling pipes (15) are made of a material with good thermallyconductive properties including copper, steel, aluminum, or syntheticmaterial; the heating-cooling pipes (15) arranged on and/or under theconveyor belt (19) of the at least one breeding line (14) form at leasttwo rows of heating-cooling pipes (15) spaced from each other by 20 cm;and the fluid connection is provided by pipes (16) made of steel.
 8. Theheated production surface according to claim 5, wherein theheating-cooling medium supply circuit (17) and the heating-coolingmedium return circuit (18) comprise a system of shut-off valves (12),drain valves (5), vents (10), at least one temperature sensor (7) and atleast one pressure sensor (8), which are fluidly connected to eachother; the heating-cooling medium return circuit (18) comprises arotameter (9); and the heating-cooling medium supply circuit (17)comprises a solid particle filter (11).
 9. The heated production surfaceaccording to claim according to claim 1, whereby the rearing and/orbreeding of insects and/or larval forms of insects of the ordersColeoptera and/or Diptera are achieved.
 10. A method of heating feedduring rearing and breeding of insects, or rearing larval forms ofinsects of the orders Coleoptera and Diptera, wherein the it comprises astep where feed is heated by means of a heated production surface asdefined in claims 1-9.
 11. A method of rearing and breeding of insectsor rearing larval forms of insects of the orders Coleoptera or Diptera,comprising the steps of: a) laying a feed at the storage temperature onat least one breeding line (14) adapted for laying feed for breedinginsects, b) heating the feed by a heated production surface for rearingand/or breeding of insects and/or larval forms of insects, wherein theheated production surface comprises: at least one breeding line (14) forbreeding insects for laying feed thereon, and a feed heating system,which constitutes an electrical feed heating system (22) on a breedingline placed on and/or under the surface of the at least one breedingline (14), wherein the electrical heating system (22) of the breedingline comprises a heating cable (23) placed on and/or under the at leastone breeding line (14) in such a way as to heat the feed, wherein theheating cable (23) is connected via connection wires (24) to acontrol-power unit (26) controlling the operation of the heating cable,said control-power unit (26) being connected to an energy source; andwherein the electrical feed heating system (22) is selected from aheating mat or heating cable.
 12. The method of rearing and breeding ofinsects or rearing larval forms of insects of the orders Coleoptera orDiptera according to claim 11, wherein the at least one breeding line(14) comprises at least one storey, which constitutes an autonomousconveyor belt (19).
 13. The method of rearing and breeding of insects orrearing larval forms of insects of the orders Coleoptera or Dipteraaccording to claim 12, wherein along the direction of movement of theconveyor belt (19) are arranged bilaterally profiled lateral sidewalls(20), the edges of the lateral sidewalls (20) are bent inwards.
 14. Themethod of rearing and breeding of insects or rearing larval forms ofinsects of the orders Coleoptera or Diptera according to claim 12,wherein the breeding line (14) comprises two to, thirty storeys.
 15. Themethod of rearing and breeding of insects or rearing larval forms ofinsects of the orders Coleoptera or Diptera according to claim 11,wherein the heated production surface further comprises a flow-throughfeed heating and/or cooling system (1) with a closed flow of aheating-cooling medium for heating and/or cooling the feed on the atleast one breeding line (14), wherein the heating and/or cooling system(1) with a closed flow comprises at least one heating-cooling mediumsupply circuit (17) and at least one heating-cooling medium returncircuit (18) connected to each other, and the heating-cooling mediumsupply circuit (17) and the heating-cooling medium return circuit (18)are fluidly connected to a heat exchanger (3) for heating/cooling theheating-cooling medium, and the heating-cooling medium supply circuit(17) and the heating-cooling medium return circuit (18) comprisedistributors (13) for the heating-cooling medium, and to theheating-cooling medium distributor (13) via a shut-off valve (12),heating-cooling pipes (15) of thermally conductive material areconnected for the distribution of heat and/or cold on the at least onebreeding line (14), wherein the heating-cooling pipes (15) of thermallyconductive material of the feed heating/cooling system on the at leastone breeding line (14) are arranged parallel to the an autonomousconveyor belt (19) of the breeding line (14) for laying feed forbreeding insects thereon, wherein the heating-cooling pipes (15) ofthermally conductive material are arranged along the at least onebreeding line (14) for rearing insects and are arranged in at least tworows parallel to each other, and wherein the heating-cooling mediumsupply circuit (17) and the heating-cooling medium return circuit (18)are connected via a three-way valve (2).
 16. The method of rearing andbreeding of insects or rearing larval forms of insects of the ordersColeoptera or Diptera according to claim 15, wherein the heat exchanger(3) provides heating/cooling of the heating-cooling medium to atemperature in the range of 7-50° C.; and the heat exchanger (3) isbased on a source of electrical energy, gas or the use of heat pumps orheat recuperation.
 17. The method of rearing and breeding of insects orrearing larval forms of insects of the orders Coleoptera or Dipteraaccording to claim 15, wherein the heating-cooling pipes (15) are madeof a material with good thermally conductive properties includingcopper, steel, aluminum, or synthetic material; the heating-coolingpipes (15) arranged on and/or under the conveyor belt (19) of the atleast one breeding line (14) form at least two rows of heating-coolingpipes (15) spaced from each other by 20 cm; and the fluid connection isprovided by pipes (16) made of steel.
 18. The method of rearing andbreeding of insects or rearing larval forms of insects of the ordersColeoptera or Diptera according to claim 15, wherein the heating-coolingmedium supply circuit (17) and the heating-cooling medium return circuit(18) comprise a system of shut-off valves (12), drain valves (5), vents(10), at least one temperature sensor (7) and at least one pressuresensor (8), which are fluidly connected to each other; theheating-cooling medium return circuit (18) comprises a rotameter (9);and the heating-cooling medium supply circuit (17) comprises a solidparticle filter (11).